Early voting begins today

Voters do not have to present their blue voter cards but are required to have a state or federally issued photo ID with them when they arrive to vote.

Administrator of Elections Phillip Warren said that early voting helps voters save time, rather than voting on Election Day.

It is just more convenient. On Election Day you have to vote at your polling place (listed on your voter card), but during early voting you can vote at any of the locations in the county, he said, adding that in such a big election there will be lines so voters should be prepared.

It is a little more relaxed and you can do it when youve got time. There are going to be lines so pick a pretty day to stand in line.

Warren said that as of Tuesday, 75,894 Wilson County residents were registered to vote in the election about 10,000 more than were registered for the same election four years ago.

In 2008, he said, 51,159 Wilson County voters voted in the presidential race. A total of 26,054 early voted.

A total of 9,811 voted in the mayoral race for the City of Lebanon and 10,098 voted in the mayoral race for the City of Mt. Juliet. There were 417 people who voted in the 2008 mayoral race for the City of Watertown.

Staff Writer Sabrina Garrett can be contacted at sgarrett@wilsonpost.com.